Fillerstractor



; March l6, 1937. H.IW. LONGDIN ET AL 2,074,267

FILLERSTRACTOR Filed Oct. 31, 1935 VE/V r 0 98 Patented Mar. 16, 1937 UNlTED STATES 2,074,267 FILLERSTRAGTOR Barry W. Longdin, Atlanta, and Julian 0. Stanley,

East

Point, Ga.

Application October 31, 1935, Serial No. 47,724

i a 1 4 Claims. Generically this invention relates to gasoline storage tank assemblies, but it more specifically including a direct suction line carrying a foot valvethereby eliminating special type valves.

One'of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of a casing of novel design adapted to house all pipe lines such as suction pipe, return pipe, vent pipe, and filler pipe, and, with their connections constituting a central unit, thereby eliminating a plurality of connections with a storage tank, permitting ready access to such connections for purposes of repair or removal 1 for cleaning without disturbing the ground or concrete surface above said tank as has been heretofore prevalent. Another important object of this invention is the provision of' a casing in which is adapted to 5 house a fitting including filler and suction lines and a removable cover for said casing constituting a waterproof closure formed with a cover for the filler pipe 'andmeans for locking the latter in *sealing position.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a casing of the above character. adapted to .house a fitting for an under-ground storage tank and pump means, and including a direct suction :line, and a filler pipe, so arranged that a measuring:stick 1may be inserted through the filler pipe, .andthe suction line expeditiously withdrawn for purposes of repair or cleaning, by the removal of single connecting element, and a return pipe and the .air vent pipe also directly communicating withxthe interior of the casing. vWith these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. lis a, vertical sectional view through our 50 improved casing in operative position with pipes and fittings in elevation.

. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. i Fig. 3 is a side elevational view.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 95 ofFlg. 1.

The pipe connections and fittings with respect to gasoline storage tank and pump assemblies with which we are familiar have proven deficient in many respects, such as being difiicult of installation, requiring a multiplicity of connections, with the tank, the suction or discharge pipe being difficult to remove for repair or for cleaning and requiring the surface above the tank to be dug up and removed in order to reach the connections requiring attention, and in cases where some sort of sleeve arrangement was used to house some of the connections, it was necessary to remove several parts and even then the suction assembly could only be removed with diificulty and it was, therefore, to overcome such deficiencies by providing a casing through which are adapted to extend all pipe line connections, including overflow pipe, air vent pipe, filler pipe and a direct suction line, whereby special type valves etc. are eliminated, said lines being readily accessible from the, surface overlying said tank and the suctionline being removable by simply disconnecting a single element, said casing designed to effect arrangement therein of the filler pipe so as not to interfere with the suction line and at the same time permitting the insertion therethrough of a measure stick, a cover for the casing constituting a waterproof seal and means carried by the cover adapted to independently and lockingly seal the upper end of the filler pipe, that we designedthe casing and fitting assembly forming the subject matter of this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a'vertical casing l presenting substantially an enlarged bayonetslot configuration in cross section at its upper end forming the enlarged portion 2 and smaller portion 3, the latter terminating substantially central of the length of said casing in the inwardly extending bottom section 4 forming the restricted tubular'portion 5 which terminates in the further restricted lower end portion or sec- 7 tion 6 adaptedto be suitably connected to an underground storage tank (not shown),

The casing I is formed at its upper edge with alateral flange 1 and at one side adjacent to said flange with a slightly enlarged sidewall portion 8. The upper inlet or open end 9 of said casing is adapted to be closed by a cover Ill conforming in configuration to the portions 2 and 3, seating on said flange 1 and is formed. adjacent to portion 8 with an opening ll adapted to receive the upper end of the storage tank filler pipe I2.

The opening II is adapted to threadedly re- .ceive filler cap l3 which closes said opening and seals the upper end of filler pipe 12. The surface of cap [3 is countersunk as at M and cover is formed with a countersunk portion i5 communicating with the countersunk portion 14 in which portions is adapted to seat the lock I6 suitably securing the cap against unauthorized removal. The cover Ill is formed with a circumferential depending flange l1 adapted to embrace flange I to form a watertight connection, and with a centering collar l8 fitting over and maintaining the filler pipe I2 in position. The cover I 0 is secured to the casing by bolts l 9 in countersunk portions and engaged in the threaded openings in cover It] and flange 1. The upper surface of said cover in is adapted to constitute a continuation of the surface of the ground '2l or other substance above the storage tank, as Will hereinafter more fully appear.

The lower end of filler pipe i 2 is adapted to extend through and be supported by disk 22 suitably secured in said tubular portion 5 adjacent its upper end, and vintermediate said filler pipe and the opposite side of said portion 5 is the suction line or pipe '23 adapted to extend through and be similarly supported by said disk with its lower foot valve and extending to thebottom of the tank (not shown) and its upper end projecting slightly above bottom 4. Suitably mounted on the upper end of suction pipe 23 is a check valve 24 having a threaded nipple 25 extending at right angles to said pipe 23. A pipe 26 having one end connected to a gasoline or other pump (not shown) and its other end extending through opening 21 in the side wall of portion 3 in alignment with nipple 25 and threaded to receive the threaded union or. element 28, adapted to threadedly effect connection between said nipple 25 and pipe '26, forms a continuation of the suction pipe or gasoline supplying line 23 to a pump (not shown). i

Section 5, adjacent its lower end and pipe 23, is formed with an opening 29 in which is threadedly or otherwise suitably secured one end of overflow pipe 30 which is necessary in connection with some types of pumps so that said overflow will discharge into the lower end of said casing, as will be apparent. Said portion 5 adjacent filler pipe l2 and spaced'above its lower end is formed with an opening 3| in which is threadedly or otherwise suitably secured the inlet end of air vent pipe 32 so that during the filling operation of the tank air may be vented therefrom and through said casing, as will be apparent.

The measuring stick 33 is shown extending through filler pipe l2 and the outlet opening 34 in the lower end of the restricted'portion 6 of casing I which is adapted for suitable connection with the storage tank, so as to show the arrangement and designofthe' casing permitting a straight line connection between opening II in cover I 0 of the casing and the interior of the tank (not shown).

In connection with suction pipe 23, it is important to note that this pipe presents a direct, straight and unbroken line throughout its length and that the design of the casing and the arrangement of filler pipe l2 with respect thereto permits the casing to be restricted at its lower end for suitable connection with the tank and the ready removal of said suction pipe, as will directly more fully appear. To fill the tank it is only necessary to unlock lock I 5 and remove filler'cap l3. Access to the casing is easily accomplished by loosening bolts l9 and-removing the cover l0, whereby "the fittings withinthe casing are readily accessible, and suction pipe 23 may be quickly and expeditiously withdrawn for repair or cleaning by simply actuating element 28 to effect disconnection with pipe section 26.

From the above it will be apparent that we have designed a suction line assembly and casing therefor which, owing to its special design, permits all pipe lines to pass within or through said casing and thereby eliminates all connections but one with the,,;;storage tank. ,.'I'he arrangement of the filler pipe with respect to the suction pipe and the lower end of the casing is such that a direct line through the filler pipe to the interior of the tank is effected, and allows the expeditious removal of the suction pipe by the actuation of a single element. It will thus be seen that we have not only designed an assembly permitting the above referred to arrangement of parts within a casing, but one easily installed, simple in construction, manufacturable' at a reasonable cost, and efficie'nt for the purposes intended;

Although in practice we have found that the form of our invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and. referred to in the above description as the preferred embodim'ent' is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing the conditions concurrent with the adoption of our invention will necessarily var-y, we desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope ofthe appended claims without departing from: or sacrificing any of the'principles of this invention. I

Having thus described ouriinvention, what'we desire protected by Letters-Patent is asset forth in the following claims:

1. A suction line assembly for storage tanks including a casing having an outlet opening adaptedfor connection with a storage tank and having an inlet opening, a cover-for the casing including a filler pipe opening, a coverfor the filler pipe opening and locking means therefor carried bysaid first mentioned cover, a suetion pipe and a filler pipe housed within the casing, the arrangement therein of the filler pipe being such as to permit direct line connection between the inlet opening and the tank, and means connecting the upper-end of the suction pipe and casing, whereby said pipe may be removed along the line normal to the plane of the top of the tank. l

2. A suction line assembly for storagetanks including a casing having an-outlet'opening adapted for connection with a storage tank and having an inlet opening, a coverfor the casing, an overflow pipe having its discharge. end

moved along the line normal to-the plane 'of the top of the tank.

.3. A suction line assembly for storage tanks including a casing having an outlet opening adapted for connection with a storage tankl and an inlet opening, a cover for the casing, an overfiow pipe having its discharge end communicating with-said casing, avent pipe forsaid'tank having its inlet end in communication Lw'ithsaid casing, suction and filler pipes housed within the casing, the arrangement of said filler pipe being such as to permit ready removal 0! said suction pipe, and means connecting the upper end of the suction pipe and casing, Whereby said pipe may be removed along the line normal to the plane of the top of the tank.

4. A suction line assembly for storage tanks including a casing having an outlet opening adapted for connection with a storage tank and having an inlet opening, a cover for the casing, an overflow pipe and an air vent pipe having their discharge and inlet ends respectively communieating with said casing, a suction pipe and filler pipe housed in said casing, their arrangement being such as not to interfere with the removal of the suction pipe, and means including a movable element connecting the upper end of the suction pipe and easing, whereby actuation of said movable element permits removal of said pipe along the line normal to the plane of the top of the tank.

HARRY W. LONGDIN.

JULIAN C. STANLEY. 

